Pre-set electronic cash register

ABSTRACT

A pre-set electronic cash register in which a magnetic core matrix is utilized for price, inventory and cash total memory, and for temporary storage of quantity, tax and total for individual transactions. Each item for sale in a given transaction is represented by a separate item key which, together with a quantity key, has an input to the core memory. The price for each individual item is stored in the corresponding item in memory. This is addressed with an item key and a quantity key for each transaction and read out into a shift register through suitable core timing circuitry. The shift register is parallely connected to an accumulator which, when the item priced and quantity or multiplier has been shifted out of the shift register, contains the product. The tax rate is accomplished through a binary number representing the tax rate times 200 which is multiplied by the total and divided by 200 after which it is added to the sum of the product&#39;&#39;s item and quantity. An updated inventory is coupled back to the core memory system after each transaction. When the transaction is completed, printer-control circuitry activates a printer which itemizes the transaction and prints out the tax and total. Inventory keys are provided for printing out the existing inventory stored in the memory core. Suitable circuitry is provided for changing item prices and tax rates. The minimum tax rate is programmed through a BCD to binary converter into a subtractor for comparing an individual transaction with a minimal tax rate and inhibits the tax circuitry when the transaction is below the minimum taxable purchase.

United States Patent [191 Brewer et-al- 51 Jan. 9, 1973 [54] PRE-SETELECTRONIC CASH REGISTER [75] Inventors: Donald R. Brewer; Richard A.

Schipper, both of San Diego, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Tele Cash, Inc., San Diego, Calif.

[22] Filed: Oct. 26, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 83,790

[52] U.S. Cl. ..235/l64, 235/168 [51] Int. Cl ..G06f 7/52 [58] Field ofSearch ..235/l64, 168, I76

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,253,132 5/1966 Pendleton..235/l68 3,267,436 8/1966 Alpert et al. ....340/l72.5 3,330,947 7/1967Alpert et al. ..235/176 3,598,973 8/1971 Brooks ....235/l68 PrimaryExaminerMalcolm A. Morrison Assistant ExaminerDavid H. MalzahnAttorney-Richard K. MacNeill [57] ABSTRACT A pre-set electronic cashregister in which a magnetic core matrix is utilized for price,inventory and cash 33 BIT SHIFT REGISTER PARALLEL ADDER ACCUMU LATORCOUNT DOWN COUNTER IO +10 +IO PRINTER CONTROL bl"- DISPLAY MEMORYPRINTER DISPLAY DRIVERS NIXIE DISPLAY total memory, and for temporarystorage of quantity, tax and total for individual transactions. Eachitem for sale in a given transaction is represented by a separate itemkey which, together with a quantity key, has an input to the corememory. The price for each individual item is stored in thecorresponding item in memory. This is addressed with an item key and aquantity key for each transaction and read out into a shift registerthrough suitable core timing circuitry. The shift register is parallelyconnected to an accumulator which, when the item priced and quantity ormultiplier has been shifted out of the shift register,

contains the product. The tax rate is accomplished through a binarynumber representing the tax rate times 200 which is multiplied by thetotal and divided by 200 after which it is added to the sum of theproducts item and quantity. An updated inventory is coupled back to thecore memory system after each transaction. When the transaction iscompleted, printer-control circuitry activates a printer which itemizesthe transaction and prints out the tax and total. Inventory keys areprovided for printing out the existing inventory stored in the memorycore. Suitable circuitry is provided for changing item prices and taxrates. The minimum tax rate is programmed through a BCD to binaryconverter into a subtractor for comparing an individual transaction witha minimal tax rate and inhibits the tax circuitry when the transactionis below the minimum taxable purchase.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures TOTAL CANCEL CONTROL PAIENTEDJAII 9 I9753,710,085

I SHEET 1 [IF 3 ITEM TIMER CLOCK PULSE WRITE PULSE DATA OUT UPDATESINVENTORY, TAX TOTAL TOTAL' 3 TOTAL CONTROL CANCEL I CONTROL STA RTCONVERSION COUNT DOWN CLOCK S T DONALD R. BREWE WI CH RICHARD A.SCHIPPER 22 I NVENTOR.

RICHARD K. MACNEILL PAIENIEUJAI 9 ms 3.710.085

* snmanrs 53 BIT SHIFT REGISTER PARALLEL ADDER g3 ACCUMULATOR COUNT DOWNCOUNTER PRINTER CONTROL E DISPLAY MEMORY 5g PRINTER DONALD R. BREWERRICHARD A. SCHIPPER INVENTOR.

DISPLAY DRIVERS NIXIE DISPLAY BY (DEFT-1* f PATENTEDJAI ems 3.710.085

- SHEET 3 [1F 3 I BITS ' DONALD R. BREWER RICHARD A. SCHI PPER INVENTOR.

RICHARD K. MACNEILL PRE-SET ELECTRONIC CASH REGISTER BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pre-set electroniccash register and more particularly to a pre-set electronic cashregister which automatically computes sales tax and carries a runninginventory.

According to the invention, a pre-set electronic cash register isprovided in which a plurality of items for sale, for example, milkshakes, hamburgers, onion rings, etc., each have an item key on akeyboard which is coupled to a separate row of memory bits in the memorystorage system. Each item row has a plurality of bits for quantity,price and inventory, the price bits being on a semi-permanent basis andthe quantity and inventory bits being changed with each transaction. Abit timer scans each of the items during each readout and the itemsalong with the quantity are read out serially into a shift registerwhich is parallely loaded into an accumulator, the accumulator holdingthe product of the individual price and quantity. The accumulator has anoutput coupled to a minimum taxable purchase subtractor which comparesthe minimum taxable purchase with the transaction and inhibits furthertax computation if the transaction is beneath the statutory minimumprogrammed into the machine. If the transaction is above the minimumtaxable purchase, the tax multiplier is applied and added to thetransaction total which is printed out through a printer connected inparallel to a Nixie display unit. Each time I an individual itemtransaction is completed, it is added to the item inventory in the corememory. Readouts are provided for daily total, inventory, etc., as wellas transaction clearing and cancelling circuitry. Hence, an electroniccash register is provided which maintains a constantly updated inventoryrecord, as well as automatically computing sales tax.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a pre-setelectronic cash register which maintains a constantly updated iteminventory.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pre-set electroniccash register in which sales tax is computed automatically.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pre-setelectronic cash register in which current inventory can be convenientlyread out.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pre-set electroniccash register in which item price changes and sales tax changes can beeasily programmed.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a pre-setelectronic cash register which is inexpensive to manufacture andextremely convenient in use.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same 1 Referringto FIG. 1, total key11, cancel key 12, in-

ventory key 13, clear key 14, daily total key 16, and

price change key 17 are all coupled to sequence-control 18. Price changekey 17 is also coupled to BCD to binary converter 19 which has inputscoupled to price switches 21 and minimum taxable purchase switch 22. BCDto binary converter 19 has one output coupled to core timing 23 andanother output coupled to subtractor 24. Quantity keys 26, oscillator 27and sequencecontrol 18 all have outputs coupled to core timing 23. Coretiming 23 has an output connected to sequencecontrol 18 and to bit timer28, item drivers 29, and item timer 31. Quantity keys 26 and item keys32 are interconnected with keyboard-control and interlocks 33. Item keys32 have an output coupled to item address 33. Item timer 31 has anoutput coupled to item address 33. Item address 33 has an output coupledto item drivers 29. Item drivers 29 have outputs coupled to memory core34. Bit timer 28 has an output coupled to bit address 36 which has anoutput coupled to bit drivers 37 which, in turn, have outputs coupled tomemory core 34. Core timing 23 has outputs coupled to bit drivers 37.Core timing 23 also has an output coupled to terminal 58 and inputscoupled from memory core 34 and terminal 39. Sequence control 18 has anoutput and an input coupled to arithmetic control 41. Arithmetic control41 has an output and input coupled to binary to BCD converter 42 whichhas outputs coupled to terminals 43 and 44 and an input coupled toterminal 46. Arithmetic control 41 has outputs coupled to terminals 47,48, 49, 51, 52 and 53. Terminal 52 is also coupled to subtractor 24.Sequence control 18 has an output coupled to terminal 54 and an inputcoupled to terminal 56.

Referring to FIG. 2, terminals 58, 53 and 47 are all coupled to 33 bitshift register 61 which has outputs coupled to parallel adder 62, fivebit shift register 63, adder 64 and terminal 57. Tax switch 66 is alsocoupled to 33 bit shift register 61. Parallel adder 62 is coupled toaccumulator 67 which, in turn, is coupled to countdown counter 68, oneinput of ORgate 69, and terminal 52. Terminals 48 and 49 are alsocoupled to accumulator 67.

Countdown counter 68 has one input coupled to terminal 43 and an outputcoupled to terminal 46. Terminal 44 is coupled to decade counter 71which has an output coupled to decade counter 72 which, in turn, hasanoutput coupled to decade counter 73 having an output coupled to decadecounter 74 having an output coupled to decade counter 76 which has anoutput coupled to decade counter 77. Decade counters 71 72, 73, and 74,each has outputs coupled to printer control 78 and display memory 79.Printer control 78 has inputs from decade counters 76 and 77, terminal54 and paper advance 81 and an output to terminal 56. Printer control 78is interconnected with printer 82. Display memory 79 has outputs coupledto display drivers 83 which, in turn, have outputs coupled to Nixiedisplay 84. Decade counter 72 has an output coupled to a divide-by-t'woblock 86 which, in turn, is coupled to binary tax counter 87. Binary taxcounter 87 has outputs coupled to tax shift register 88 which, in turn,has an output coupled through ORgate 69 to adder 64. Adder 64 has anoutput coupled to terminal 39.

OPERATION INPUTS The price of each item is programmed into the machineby means of price change switches 17 on the program panel. The maximumprice for each item in the embodiment shown is $9.99. The sales tax rateis programmed by tax switches 66. The machine'will accept tax rates from0.0 to 9.5 percent in increments of 0.5 percent. The minimum taxablepurchase is the price under which no tax is charged. This number isprogrammed in by minimum taxable purchase .switch 22.Keyboard inputsconsist of 30 item keys 32, quantity keys 26, and a total key 11.

OUTPUTS A four-digit display panel 84, using Nixie readout tubes,displays the total purchase price up to a max-- imum of $99.99. Thetotal for every transaction is dis- I -played in the window. A receiptis produced for each transaction by printer 82. The receipt contains theitem number and price for each item ordered, the tax on the purchase,and the grand total. Upon command from inventory button 13, the printer82 will print an inventory tape consisting of l) the total cash and (2)an item-byitem list of the total number of each item sold. The

printer will also, on command, print the total cash only.v

MEMORY Referring to FIG. 3, a 32 X 32 magnetic memory core matrixis usedfor price, inventory and cash total memory. The memory is also used fortemporary storage of quantity, tax and total for individualtransactions. The memory is arranged into 32 words of 32 bits each. Thewords are referred to as items. Thefirst thirtyv items in memorycorrespond to the 30 item keys 32 (FIG. 1) on the keyboard. Item 31 istemporary storage for tax and total. and item 32 stores the total cash.The price for each individual item on the keyboard is stored in thecorresponding item in memory. Price is stored in bits 9through 18 and-isbinary with the least significant bit in bit 9 position. When atransaction is entered into the machine, the quantity of each itemordered is written in the appropriate item in memory in bit positions 1through4 and is binary with the most significant bit in bit 1 position.The inventory or total number of each item sold is stored in bitpositions 21 through 32 in each item. The inventory is in binary withthe least significant bit position 21. During a transaction, the tax andtotal must be stored temporarily and printed at the end of the tape.Item 31 accommodates this data. Total is stored in bits 6 through 22 inbinary with the least significant bit in position 6. The tax is storedin bits 23 through 32 in binary with the least significant bit inposition 23.'As each transaction is completed, the total delay. Thenecessary addition is: (I) add quantity to inventory; (2) add tax tototal; (3) add grand total to daily total. The only subtractionnecessary is to subtract the minimum taxable purchase from the total todetermine if tax is to be added. This is accomplished serially insubtractor 24 with borrow delay. The

presence of a borrow at the end of the subtraction indicates that no taxshould be charged on the transaction. Multiplication is accomplished byshifting the multiplicand serially in shift register 61 and accumulatingin parallel in accumulator 67. The multiplier and multiplicand are bothshifted through shift register 61. The multiplier is ahead of themultiplicand with the most significant bit first. The multiplicand isshifted least significant bit first. The shift register 61 is con-vnected parallely to accumulator 67. As multiplier bits emerge from shiftregister 61, they activate accumulator 67 and add the multiplicand toaccumulator 67. When the multiplier has been shifted all the way out ofshift register 61, the product is contained in accumulator 67 Themultiplier is used to multiply quantity times price and tax rate timestotal. The tax rate is a binary number representing the tax rate times200. The scale factor of 200 is accomplished in the tax rate switchwiring. The only division necessary in the machine is to divide the taxfigure by 200 to offset the scale factor of 200 in the tax rate. Thedivision is done by counting down through two decade counters, 71 and27, and one flip-flop 86. The result is a divide by 10 X 10 X 2. Alldata storage and computations are in binary. Input and output data arein binary coded decimal. PROGRAM DATA INPUTS The tax rate is coded as afive bit binary number in tax switch 66 with the least significant bithaving a weight of s of 1 percent. Thus, 0.005 is equivalent to a binaryl, or 200 times the tax rate. The tax rate is stored in the switch andis sampled when tax is computed. Three binary coded decimal digitswitches shown as block 21 are used to enter prices into the machine.This binary coded decimal number isv converted to binary in BCD tobinary converter 19. To enter a price into the machine, an item isselected on the keyboard at item keys 32 which address the core throughitem address 35 and the .price change 17 is pressed. A BCD output isconverted to binary in BCD to binary converter 19 and written into theaddressed item in the core. The minimum taxable purchase input 22 ispreferably a two-decade BCD? switch. When the total for a transactionhas been computed in accumulator 67, this switch is sampled and the BCDnumber is converted to binary and compared to the total. The

comparison is done in subtractor 24 by subtracting the minimum taxablefrom the accumulator total'. If a borrow exists, it is utilized as a taxinhibit to arithmetic control 41 and no taxis computed. OPERATOR INPUTSKeyboard inputs consist of thirty item. keys 32, ten quantity keys 26,one total key 11, one cancel key 12, and one daily total key 16. Eachkey is connected to a latch circuit which remembers an entry and allkeys have interlock circuits to guard against erroneous inputs. Thesecircuits are located vin keyboard control and interlocks 33. When anitem key 32 is depressed, the circuit will latch and all other item keyswill be interlocked. The same applies to the quantity keys 26.

Once one item and one quantity are latched, the quantity is written intomemory core 34 in the item selected by item key 32. Item and quantityinterlocks are then both turned off and the keys are unlatched. Thekeyboard is now ready for another entry. Quantities may be entered foras many items are desired up to the maximum number of items on thekeyboard. All entries are written into memory core 34 and retained untiltotal key 1 1 is pressed and the order is computed. COMPUTATION OF ATRANSACTION When the total key 11 is pressed, a total flip-flop (notshown) is set and all keyboard inputs are interlocked. At the same time,the first total cycle flip-flop (not shown) is set and the bit timer28and item timer 31 begin to run. During the first total cycle, theentire transaction is computed and the total is displayed at Nixiedisplay 84. Each item is read from memory core 34 sequentially. The bittimer 28 is cycled twice for eachitem. During the first item cycle, theitem is read out to the arithmetic control 41 for computation and duringthe second item cycle, the updated inventory is written back into memoryfrom adder 64 through core timing 23. As the item is being read in thefirst item cycle, the data is shifted serially to shift register 61.During the first four bits of the item, quantity is examined. Ifquantity is zero, no more data is read from that item. The bit timer 28will continue to count and at bit 0 time, the second item cycle willstart. Since quantity was zero, the item will still not be read, but hittimer 28 will continue to count. At the end of the second item cycle,the item timer 31 will advance one count. The bit timer 28 will nowcycle twice for the next item and advance the item timer 31 one moreitem. When an item is read and a quantity is detected during the firstfour bits of the first item cycle, this item must be computed. Theentire item is read: quantity, price and inventory. The data is shiftedinto shift register 61. At this time, the quantity is sampled and storedin quantity register 63 for use later on. The machine then starts thesecond item cycle. Shift register 61 continues to shift and the firstdata out of the shift register is quantity with the most significant bitfirst. If a quantity bit is a one, the price is parallely loaded andadded to accumulator 67. After all the quantity bits are out of shiftregister 61, the product of quantity timesprice is in accumulator 67.Shift register 61 continues shifting and at bit 21 time the first bit ofinventory is at its output. At this time, quantity from quantity shiftregister 63 is added in adder 64 to inventory from accumulator 67 andthe sum is written back into memory as updated inventory. At the end ofthe second item cycle, the item timer 31 advances and the next item isread. As each item is computed, its product is added to the accumulator67. When all items have been read, the accumulator 67 contains thevtotal purchase price less tax. The item timer 31 is advanced to item 31and the tax cycle starts. During the tax cycle, item timer 31 does notadvance, but hit timer 28 continues to run to provide timing for thecomputations. The sub-total in accumulator 67 is shifted out and intoshift register 61 through arithmetic control 41. When the sub-total isin the proper position in shift register 61, the tax switch 66 issampled and the tax rate X 200 is loaded into the first fivebit'locations of shift register 61. As shift register 61 continues toshift, the sub-total is multiplied by the tax rate and the product isheld in accumulator 67. This product represents the tax X 200.The outputof shift register 61 is now connected to its input through arithmeticcon,- trol 41 and the sub-total is re-circulated in shift register 61 asa means of temporary storage. The tax X 200 is loaded from accumulator67 into countdown counter 68. As the counter is counted down, a clock issimultaneously counted up through a divide by 200 by decade counters 71and 72 and divide counter 86 to binary tax counter 87. When thecountdown is completed, the clocks stop and tax count 87 contains thetax rounded off to the nearest cent. The tax is now loaded into taxshift register 88. When the sub-total is in the proper position in shiftregister 61, tax shift register 88 is clocked and the sub-total and thetax are added serially in adder 64 and written into item 31 in memorycore 34. At the same time, the tax is re-circulated in the tax register88 and the grand total is re -circulated in shift register 61. After thegrand total has been written into memory core 34, the tax register 88 isagain shifted and the tax is written into item 31 in memory core 34. Thegrand total in shift register 61 is loaded into accumulator 67 and thecountdown counter 68. The countdown counter 68 begins counting' down andsimultaneously decade counters 71, 72, 73, 74, 76 and 77 are counted up.When the countdown is completed, the grand total in the decade countersis displayed in Nixie display 84 and the cash drawer (not shown) opens.Now the item timer 31 is advanced to item 32 and the daily total is readout of memory and shifted into shift register 61. When the daily totalis in position, the grand total in accumulator 67 is shifted out andadded to the daily total serially in adder 64 and the updated dailytotalis written back into item 32 in memory core 34. At this point, thefirst total cycle is reset and the second total cycle is set. Allnecessary computations have been completed at this time. During thesecond total cycle, the receipt is printed in printer 82.

The second total cycle is very similar to the first.

, Each item is read sequentially, and there is a first cycle and asecond item cycle for each item as before. When a quantity is detectedin an item, the item is read out to shift register 61. Price ismultiplied by quantity as be fore and the total for that item is held inaccumulator 67. The bit timer 28 stops and a start print command fromsequence control 18 turns on printer control 78 and printer 82. Theaccumulator 67 is loaded into the countdown counter 68 and converted toBCD in the decade up counters 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77. The BCD item totalis printed on a tape along with the item number in printer 82. A printcomplete signal is now applied to sequence control 18 which advancesitem BCD in binary to BCD conversion control 42, and

printed in printer 82. Now the total is likewise loaded from accumulator67 to countdown counter 68, converted to BCD and printed. The item timer31 then advances to item zero and the second total cycle is re-set.

A cancel cycle turns on and the item timer begins stepping through allitems. During cancel cycle, all quantities are erased from memory andthemachine is restored to a ready status. I,

When the inventory button 13 is pushedfi'the memory core 34 is read itemby item and inventory is printed for .eachv item. The inventory for eachitem is shifted to shift register 61 and loaded into the countdowncounter 68 for conversion. This process is the same as printing areceipt during the second total cycle. Pushing clear button 14 produces.the same results except that all inventories are erased from memory.

The digital timing and controlcircuitry present in core timing 23,sequence control 18, arithmetic control 41 and binary to BCD conversioncontrol 42 have not been detailed since the control andtiming circuitrytion herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do notconstitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. A pre-set electronic cash register comprising:

a memory matrix, said memory matrix having a plurality of pricesprogrammed therein, each price representing a separate item;

a quantity read-inmeans coupled to said memory matrix-for reading inquantities of said'items;

readout means. coupled to said memory matrix for serially reading outeach price and quantity from said memory matrix; a shift registercoupled to said readout means for storing said quantity and pricereadouts serially; an accumulator coupledin parallel to said shiftregister for accumulating the product of the quantity and price in saidshift register; areadout means; and a I coupling means coupling saidreadout means to an output of said accumulator. 2. The pre-setelectronic cash register further including:

taxcomputing .means coupled to said shift register for computing thesales tax on each transaction. 3. The pre-set electronic cash registerof claim 1 and further including:

tax computing means coupled to said shift register for computing thesales tax on each transaction; and inhibiting means coupled to said taxcomputing means, for inhibiting any tax computation on purchases belowthe minimum taxable purchase. 4. The pre-set electronic cash register ofclaim 3 and further including:

programing means for programingthe minimum taxable purchase into saidinhibit means. 5. The pre-set electronic cash register of claim 1 andfurther including:

price change means for programing a price change of any item into saidmemory matrix.

6. The pi'e-set electronic, cash register of claim 1 wherein:

said memory'matrix includes a plurality of item rows for storing. theprice of each item, the current inventory and the quantity of eachtransaction serially; and further including an additional row forstoring total purchase price and tax; and v a further additional row forstoring cash receipts;

of claim 1 and

1. A pre-set electronic cash register comprising: a memory matrix, saidmemory matrix having a plurality of prices programmed therein, eachprice representing a separate item; a quantity read-in means coupled tosaid memory matrix for reading in quantities of said items; readoutmeans coupled to said memory matrix for serially reading out each priceand quantity from said memory matrix; a shift register coupled to saidreadout means for storing said quantity and price readouts serially; anaccumulator coupled in parallel to said shift register for accumulatingthe product of the quantity and price in said shift register; a readoutmeans; and coupling means coupling said readout means to an output ofsaid accumulator.
 2. The pre-set electronic cash register of claim 1 andfurther including: tax computing means coupled to said shift registerfor computing the sales tax on each transaction.
 3. The pre-setelectronic cash register of claim 1 and further including: tax computingmeans coupled to said shift register for computing the sales tax on eachtransaction; and inhibiting means coupled to said tax computing meansfor inhibiting any tax computation on purchases below the minimumtaxable purchase.
 4. The pre-set electronic cash register of claim 3 andfurther including: programing means for programing the minimum taxablepurchase into said inhibit means.
 5. The pre-set electronic cashregister of claim 1 and further including: price change means forprograming a price change of any item into said memory matrix.
 6. Thepre-set electronic cash register of claim 1 wherein: said memory matrixincludes a plurality of item rows for storing the price of each item,the current inventory and the quantity of each transaction serially; andfurther including an additional row for storing total purchase price andtax; and a further additional row for storing cash receipts.